Sears Whirlpool Duet Beeps and Locked

Dryer Repair
1

While plugged in and idle the dryer suddenly began beeping and the control lock light flashing every few seconds. None of the buttons would work at that point, although pressing and holding some of them inhibited the blinking and flashing until released, but then it began again. The standard control lock release method of holding the complete signal button down for three seconds, as described in the manual, didn’t work, even when held down for a long time.

After being unplugged for a few hours and then plugged in again, and my pressing a few buttons at random (I can’t remember the sequence), the control lock light went out and the dryer was able to started normally. It already had clothes in it ready to go. However, while it was drying, the blinking and beeping began again, although this didn’t seem to affect the drying. I didn’t look at the dryer while the drying was going on, so I don’t know if the lights went out when the beeping started. From time to time I could hear the beeping stop for a minute or so, but then it began again.

Once the cloths were dry, at which time there was still beeping and flashing, I unplugged the dryer again for about an hour, and when I plugged it in afterwards it was silent, and pressing the “control on” button did illuminate the time display. But after only a minute or so, the beeping and flashing started again and the buttons no longer worked.

From searching around, it seems that the problem is the button panel or the control module. I don’t know whether it is worthwhile to try, during the brief period after plug-in, to enter diagnostic mode and see if I can find some error codes.

It is odd that the machine started doing this when it was idle. Also, I don’t know why it would stop beeping for a while and then start again. It sounds like an intermittent problem or something dealing with poor electrical contacts, but it could be anything.

If would appreciate any advice on what to do next. Replacing the control module is expensive. The dryer does seem to work if I hurry to start it after plug-in following a long unplug time, and ignore the beeping, but I’d rather try to fix it.

2

I unplugged it and let it sit overnight. When subsequently plugged in, the control lock light was lit, but no beeping. I pressed the “complete” signal button and held it, and the light went out. Looked normal.

Later in the evening the beeping started again, occasionally stopping. So there is something intermittent. I have unplugged it again.

Before I either start work on it myself or call a tech, I would appreciate any thoughts on whether this symptom is more likely to come from the control board or the button board.

About a year ago the dryer wouldn’t honor a change of the selector dial for the kind of wash. After playing around with buttons for a while, it finally worked. So this isn’t the first time it has acted up.

3

If I unplug the machine and let it sit overnight, when I plug it back in the control lock light is lit, but it goes out when the end cycle signal button is held for a few seconds. After that, the machine operates normally. But later in the day when idle it will start the beeping again with the control lock light flashing every few seconds.

I would appreciate if anyone could suggest whether this symptom comes from a defective control board or a button board. I find it hard to understand why the machine works fine all day and then suddenly starts beeping when idle, so maybe there is something I could diagnose and fix that wouldn’t be the entire board.

4

I decided to just live with the plugging and unplugging and fix the problem later, but now the control light is on solid, and won’t turn off with the signal button held down for a long time. Still not sure whether it’s the control board or the button board.

5

It turned out that the dryer behave erratically when I just unplugged it and plugged it in again later. Sometimes it would have the control lock light on, and I could release it by holding down the signal button. Other times it came up normal with all lights out. Once or twice it would come up beeping, and I unplugged it and left it off longer.

I went ahead and got a control board online, which was advertised as new. I put it in, and the dryer worked. Then, a few hours later, the beeping began again, same way. I have unplugged the dryer.

I guess my next option is to replace the button boards, although when I ran a diagnostic a couple of times (using the more time / less time keys as described in the service manual) all the buttons and lights seemed to work.

I would really appreciate any suggestions on this.

6

I am experiencing similar issues with my duet dryer. Also replaced the machine control board…same issues. Curious to know if you have made any progress or even resolved this issue. My diagnostic test of button board passes too. Thanks.